Rants – Handbagwarrior; verbal ramblings

Feeling….stressed, despondent…but still wearing positive pants

th-2 There are days when I feel I can no longer compete with organisational ‘experts’, with regards to what’s best for me and other people living with dementia.

That I can no longer stop others from deciding what us people living with dementia need, or want to fit their ‘brief’.

I get upset at how what I am saying, or my voice, is being blown away on a wind of ‘organisational’…I am sitting here trying to think what word to use but can’t quite get it.. constrictions, not fitting an organisational brief..

I am a strong advocate for people living with dementia to live with the positiveness of CAN DO. Of overcoming the fear of their diagnosis and trying to do as much as they are able and then, going beyond that. Having a say in what they want, what they will accept others doing for them, having a voice that is heard. Trying something new, revisiting something they used to do. Adapt what they want to do in a way that they achieve more than they thought they ever would.

The saying “There’s no such word as can’t” is so underrated.

At this point I had written a lot of why I was writing this and then realised that it was the wrong thing to do. So what I will write instead is what I feel is important for Society/Communities/Organisations to understand.

If you are living with any form of MCI or PLWD (Person/People Living With Dementia), it is import to keep going. Before diagnosis people had their own autonomy; do you want to? how do you want this to be? give us some ideas that you would accept… and such like. After diagnosis this should still be the norm for any organisation when they are providing for us. Most people working in organisations that provide some service for PWD have training. NVQ Level 2/3 in Dementia, Social Care degrees/Masters, or ongoing comprehensive in-house training. But, this training can never take the place of the voices of people living with dementia. Our actions, ideas or input should never put behind that of an organisation.

It is always worth reminding society that PLWD once had careers and backgrounds that may have surpassed anything that any dementia provider has done. All careers from shop assistant upwards are vital roles, but it seems that when someone is diagnosed everyone forgets what they are capable of, so if they are making a suggestion or offering to do something it is of no small consequence, because they may just have more knowledge than realised.

I really don’t want to be told what I cannot do, because I can try to do anything I like as long as it is legal and will not hinder any other process. I don’t necessarily always want to leave things to the ‘experts’ if I can do something myself.

My thoughts are to step away from a situation for my own wellbeing, but this isn’t about me this is about all people living with dementia having a REAL voice.

Media, I am not a dementia soundbite!

I have had two radio interviews, one with BBC Radio Tyne Tees, which I have written about, and another with BBC Radio Newcastle. When I talk I sound fine. People say to me that I don’t sound like there is anything wrong with me. Exactly, and I am the first person to point that out with, I might sound okay, I might look okay, but I am not okay. So, when I talked to these presenters I say this to them. They ask me questions and I answer, I tell them how it is for me, because everyone who lives with dementia experiences it differently. I do however, talk about general things that people with dementia can experience when living with the disease. But, they are asking me about myself so I answer.

I felt the interviews went reasonably well, apart from Tyne Tees chap who kept using the word ‘suffering’ grrrr! He actually had no idea he was continually saying it, which means he was just doing a job and not at all interested.

When I listen to them back I am horrified by how they have been edited. I sound like someone with more advanced dementia!!!! The answers have been cut so that what is left are the words I am saying inbetween the answers I have given…just words, going nowhere in particular.

Why do reporters do this, why should I be shown as a media stereotypical dementia soundbite? I AM NOT A SOUNDBITE JUST SO YOU CAN TICK A BOX TO SAY YOU HAVE INTERVIEWED SOMEONE WITH DEMENTIA.

Why can’t the media accept that more people are being diagnosed with dementia earlier at a younger age, and can still hold a sensible conversation.

I need to have a cup of tea to calm down now 🙂

A Dr failing to understand Dementia, and the risk that poses

I had a disturbing appointment at my GP on Monday, one which I can’t quite get out of my mind.

I had a letter giving me an appointment for a “Medication Review”, okay, so this is just a review no need for my daughter to come with me.

I get into the Doctors surgery to be told this is a Dementia Review. That is not what the letter says, I think but hey ho I have never yet had one of these before so I will go with it.

Dr C reads directly from the screen and I answer his questions. They are short and succinct and not very useful to anyone really.

Dr C: Do you have a carer? Me: No Dr C, mumbling to self ‘Oh there is not a box on here for not having a carer’ Failing number one, he knows me and understands I live alone and manage well. Not all people with Dementia need carers for quite a while.

Dr C: (he talks about this being a difficult question) Have you thought about an Advanced Directive, and DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) and have you got one?

Me: Yes I have thought about it and I want DNR when the time comes, and I haven’t done one yet.

Dr. C gets a form out and starts filling in, ‘We can fill one in now’. I answer general questions and he says that as my Daughter isn’t with me she will need to sign it, after I told him we had talked about it.

Here it comes…………..

Me: Obviously I don’t want that now because I am fine.

Dr. C: “This is an Advanced Directive for the future”

Me: Yes, but I am not likely to have a heart attack now, my heart is healthy. [I have recently had a heart scan and an angiogram and have been told my arteries are healthy and my heart]. And, I am capable of leading a perfectly happy life-style now. So not yet.

Dr. C: This Advanced Directive is for the future

He repeats this several times, and I am saying yes but not yet. Then Dr. C says ‘maybe we can look at this on a yearly basis then’ and rips the form in half and places in the bin.

I am mortified. I am more than that. What just happened here? This GP was suggesting, and filling out a form so that I would not be resuscitated should I need be in the near future, in fact it could have been next month even. I have no intention of doing this until the time is right when my dementia is advancing rapidly.

What is scary, this GP appears to have no idea about Dementia at all. The more I think of it I am very concerned that Dr. C could be a danger to patients. How can this be happening today when there is more knowledge about Dementia than ever. I realise now that even though when I ask him to explain things because of my dementia he just doesn’t get it. He will just say the exact same sentence, so that I have even told him that repeating himself doesn’t mean I will understand any better!

I am changing Doctors rapidly because what if, that form had not been torn up and I was taken ill next week and needed resuscitation? Obviously this is not the only reason, there are others that are equally worrying.

When the S**t hits the fan…

..Turn the fan off..and…what next?

Okay, I have been hiding a bit of a trauma from you all. I moved, you know that. I have a lovely little bungalow that needs updating. Late November I got a quote from a builder to replace my back boiler from the fireplace with a new combi boiler siting it in the attic space. Rip out my bathroom and replace it with a shower and a vanity unit across the end wall. Along with some other things to do with the radiators, flooring, skirting boards etc.. Boiler replaced. Bathroom ripped out………………………………………………………….

They start 3rd December and I returned home on the 27th to find the brick sized tiles I requested for the shower now – 6″ x 8″. The shower tray the height of 19″, no problem because they will build a step up to it.

The end wall vanity unit now – a cloak room sized sink with a small cupboard underneath and a small toilet suitable for a cloakroom.

Then: No work, nothing. I have been conned. I am left with no money and no bathroom. Before you ask, of course I knew what I should and shouldn’t have done, but I have dementia, I live on my own and still make stupid and bad judgements. The builder tells me he is going into liquidation (with my money).

I cried for a whole day and night, then stopped because it doesn’t help me solve it. I feel so alone in trying to sort this out right now but I am not downhearted because it is not the end of the world really is it? The provision for support for people with dementia here in the North East of England is quite frankly non-existant, so there is no one for me to phone and say I just need some support through this.

So, I phoned the Citizens Advise Bureau Consumer Dept and they gave me advice in what to do next. I have sent a legal letter giving them 7 working days to complete my building works (I think that this is enough in the circumstances) which they have received. Next Wednesday I have to get some money together and start the process of taking them to Small Claims Court to get my money back or try to at least.

I have just had a quote to complete the shower so that I can wash properly which is reasonable at around £500 to include parts and labour. At the moment I haven’t quite got that so will be saving in the next month or so to get it done. The rest of the bathroom work will have to wait.

Dementia: When my Doctors tell me that it doesn’t really affect me much yet I will beg to differ. I believe that my judgement is very poor now. I have been thinking about this and wonder if it is to do with being unable to read peoples faces and voices, or negotiate in my mind whether the words people say to me add up or not. How do people make a judgement on whether to trust something or someone? I guess it can be a combination of things, including experience, how they look, or sound, that is greatly diminished for me these days. But, that doesn’t mean I will make the same mistake twice!!

For now, I have turned the fan off. I will deal with it day by day without worrying too much because right now there is absolutely nothing I can do to change it.

I feel angry…

Why oh why are there so many articles about how to prevent dementia by changing your lifestyle? This Guardian article makes me go……. Grrrrrrrrrr!

Lifestyle changes could prevent a third of dementia cases, report suggests

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Before commenting, read the article please.

What I would like to say is that change your lifestyle to drink less, stop smoking, be more active, keep your brain active and it will make you feel better, make your health better but it WILL NOT STOP YOU GETTING DEMENTIA.

The research/study they must be using to suggest lifestyle can prevent dementia can be applied to any of the following:

Heart disease, Lung disease, obesity, high blood pressure, Diabetes, help with arthritis..and any other condition that being active can help with.

Articles like this make me so angry. Why? Because it gives false hope and mis-information. At present there is no cure for Dementia. Research has yet to find out what causes dementia, they are beginning to understand what is going on a bit better, but not why this happens. If they did all of us living with dementia would be on some sort of medication to reverse it, or totally halt it, and we are not.

These articles are really about unhealthy lifestyles and what can happen in the long term. So why not write that? Some dementias can be directly through lifestyle such as Korsakoff Syndrome caused by alcohol misuse or nutrient deficiency. Some dementias can develop through the result of traumatic brain injury.

Here are some REAL sites to find information about dementia from professional bodies and people leading the support, help and information sharing for dementia.

So, I wish these newspapers stopped writing this rubbish just to fill space because it is not helping.

Rant over……..

Alzheimer’s: When prosecution of child sexual abuse is unable continue due developing Alzheimer’s

Before I start, I must state that this is my opinion only.

Lord Greville Janner has allegations going back to the 70’s for child sexual abuse when he was an MP in Leicestershire, UK. It is said he befriended manager(s) of children(s) homes for access to young children. I remember one case in particular regarding a children’s home in a small town where I used to live. A friend of mine worked there and gave evidence during the court cases when it was first investigated.

Greville Janner’s name was mentioned way back and I am not going to go into details because you can read the facts in the news today the evidence regarding whether he was involved in child sexual abuse, and the failure of the CPS to bring him to court on several occasions.

The Crown Prosecution Service has deemed him unfit to bring to prosecution because he is living with Alzheimer’s disease. So the case will not go any further meaning those adults who are living with the heritage of being a victim of sexual abuse at one of these children’s homes will never be able to see justice.

This is a very emotive subject, but one I think that is important. Without the recognition of a court judgement, will these people feel betrayed by the justice system?

Lord Janner may be unfit but if there is a case for prosecution, surely he should lose his title? As a Lord he remains to sit in the house of Lords, Alzheimer’s or not.

Surely having Alzheimer’s does not absolve someone of previous crimes committed against people, unless they are not able to mentally distinguish right or wrong at the time of the crime.

Is it right to let them off? Should they still be prosecuted even if they are unable to serve a sentence. For the survivors of the abuse it would mean a public acknowledgement of this man’s crime towards them.

I feel very strongly about supporting survivors of any crime, because they need our support in a world where justice may seem very cruel at times.

My personal view is that yes – he should be prosecuted because I refuse to believe that his memory of his whole life in the 1970’s and 80’s has been forgotten. I can also see on the other hand that this would also be very difficult to do.

This is not an easy debate to have but one which I feel must come.